Mr McGuirk claimed that the 40% reduction in firefighting staff had not had a negative effect on the service, but improved it.

“We’ve got some bone idle people in the public sector.

“There, I said it – bone idle people,” he said.

In a statement last night, Mr McGuirk issued an apology for his comments.

He said: “Much of what I said about public services explained how on Merseyside we had managed to deliver a better service despite extensive government budget cuts and less staff, and this was a model that other parts of public service could follow.

“I am passionate in defending our service and in hindsight I used language which I now regret. I apologise if any staff are upset by my comments.”